Each year, as award season rolls around, fans wait with bated breath to find out if their favorite musicians are walking away with a Grammy award. While the most important part of the ceremony is what happens on the inside, here at ELLE.com, we anxiously await what we’ll see outside on the red carpet.
We’re talking about the show-stopping beauty looks that’ll have us talking all night long, and keep fans excited through the next morning. The red carpet is where hair, makeup, and nail trends are born (or magnified). If last year’s Grammys red carpet is any indication of what to expect at the 2025 Grammy Awards tonight—remember Miley Cyrus’ old school voluminous, air-grazing bouffant? Or Olivia Rodrigo’s ombré glossy lips?—we predict that lots of beauty risks will be taken.
Turns out, we were right. If you told us Chappell Roan’s look was a painting brought to life, we’d believe you. The singer debuted a stunning Marie Antoinette-esque gown paired with dramatic makeup that has become her signature look. Meanwhile, Willow Smith made a statement of her own, elevating her sophisticated rockstar aesthetic with a voluminous, sculpted afro bob that perfectly framed her face.
All night long, awards are given to the crème de la crème in music. However, if we have our way, we’d dole out a few awards of our own for the night’s most daring, much-hyped (and rightfully so) beauty looks. Ahead, scroll through all the 2025 Grammy Awards beauty we couldn’t shut up about.
An afro this good only means Willow prioritizes health and strength during her wash-day maintenance—done with none other than Olaplex, of course. Celebrity stylist and Olaplex ambassador Vernon François worked with Willow to create a style free of extensions that put her gorgeous mane on full display. François began by smoothing the Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil throughout her hair before applying the No.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum to add smoothness. He returned to the Bonding Oil at the end to enhance shine.
Willow’s sculpted look was anchored by a dewy, sun-kissed mug, courtesy of Dior. Celebrity makeup artist Ernesto Casillas used the Dior Forever Skin Perfect Multi-Use Foundation to create a flawless base, then cocktailed the Rosy Glow Blush in #062 Bronzed Glow and Rosy Glow Blush in #015 Cherry to mimic a sunny bronzed cheek.
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Kelsea Ballerini
We’ve heard that there’s a debate brewing between the “Millennial Side Part” and the “Gen-Z Middle Part.” Based on the 2025 Grammys—and Kelsea Ballerini’s expertly styled side part—we can clearly see who the real winner is.
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Raye
Another iteration of the classic side part, Raye’s submission featured soft pin curls waved into a voluminous bob that rested just above her chin. Her dewy, rosy cheeks were the icing on the cake.
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Sabrina Carpenter
Curls, volume, and pigment blush are the standout elements of Sabrina Carpenter's signature beauty formula. Celebrity hairstylist Evanie Frautso began by protecting the hair from heat and frizz using the Redken Quick Blowout from roots to ends. Frautso didn’t completely dry the hair and worked in the Redken Stay High Mousse on damp hair. Then, he applied the Redken Root Lifter at the crown to keep Carpenter’s signature volume intact.
Bobs will forever remain a red carpet staple. Love Island’s JaNa Craig styled her hair sleek and straight with a slight bump at the ends.
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Gracie Abrams
You can barely see it, but there’s a chic, slick-straight bob under Abrams’s flowing veil perfect for any upcoming spring wedding inspiration boards. Her smokey eyes, on the other hand, are perfect fodder for a night out. Celebrity makeup artist Emily Cheng employed Hourglass’s Curator Eyeshadows in Coy, Mod, Ace, and Arc to contour the eyes. She then lined Abrams’s top and bottom lash lines with Hourglass’s 1.5MM Mechanical Gel Eye Liner in Canyon for an extra sultry look.
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Muni Long
Muni Long’s side part kept the volume at the roots, with the rest of her hair cascading down her chest.
A soft and sweet flowy side part look is always a win in our book!
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Serena Page
Serena Page’s side part style leaned a bit into the ’70s with volume flowing from the roots to the curled ends.
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Charli XCX
There was lots of side-part love at the 2025 Grammys, but Charli XCX broke through with a middle part and spiral curls to complement her ruffled dress.
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Cynthia Erivo
The one thing we can always expect Cynthia Erivo to deliver is a gorgeous set of stiletto nails. Keeping in theme with her navy and silver gown, each finger featured a different design, adorned with sparkling embelishments.
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Cardi B
Cardi B debuted burgundy hair tightly waved into a bob to keep her plunging neckline in full display.
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Doechii
Ever the experimenter with makeup, Doechii’s grey-themed makeup look—and signature eye tape—elevated her Thom Browne couture look to new levels. Of course, she paired her outfit with a half-cornrow, half-finger waves hairstyle with two micro-braids over her shoulder.
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Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus and her hairstylist Bob Recine have been trying to growing out her hair, and their hard work was on full display. Recine eschewed other hot tools and only used a hair dryer and flat Mason Pearson brush to straighten the strands after soaking them first in Nexxus’s Prep & Protect Heat Defense Spray. Read more about how the singer’s makeup and hair looks came together here.
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Lady Gaga
Miley Cyrus wasn’t the only one to show up with a jellyfish haircut. Lady Gaga stepped onto the carpet wearing a darker version of the style, which contrasted perfectly with her bleached brows.
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Beyoncé
Beyoncé looked as radiant as ever last night with stick-straight platinum blonde hair cascading down her back.
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Taylor Swift
Although Taylor Swift has been known to experiment with other lip colors, she wore her usual bright cherry red to match her sparkly Vivienne Westwood corset dress. Why mess with a classic?
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Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish appeared to debut a bob last night, but like some other musicians on the carpet tonight, she was actually sporting a jellyfish cut. The longer pieces of her hair had been put up in a tight bun, which you could see from certain angles.